BIG SKY SECRETS 01: Final Exposure
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He stood for a long moment, his face a mask of granite. “It’s close?”
“We can take a nice little shortcut through the timber and be there in fifteen minutes. Plus, I got to meet the other people who live there, and they were really nice. They’d just love to meet you, too. What do you say? All three of us can go for a visit.”
She held her breath, praying he would agree.
When he finally looked up at her, his expression was sad and defeated. “Just visit?”
“Just visit. In fact, I think we’ll get there in time for lunch, and I believe they’re having baked chicken and mashed potatoes today. With cherry pie.”
At that, his eyes widened. “Chicken? And pie?”
“If you like the place, then we can work on moving you there.” Betsy shrugged. “If not, don’t worry. We’ll think about other options.”
But at the awe in Ollie’s eyes, Erin smiled with relief. If nothing else, the cherry pie and chicken were going to seal the deal.
And soon Ollie would have a far better life.
Erin wistfully watched a young couple walk out the front door of Millie’s. Probably in their mid-twenties, they’d proudly showed off their new wedding rings and had bubbled on and on about their wedding on a beach near San Francisco.
It was wonderful to see people so happy, so filled with excitement over the future. Even Ollie was happier than she’d ever seen him. He’d moved into the group home two days after his tour, and twice now he’d shown up at Millie’s with a different new friend in tow.
If only…
But Jack had been in an obvious hurry to leave, and she hadn’t heard from him since. No matter what she’d felt for him, it had clearly been one-sided. Though sometimes, during the long evenings, she sat with Charlie on the porch swing and relived those last days when Jack and Max were still here.
If she’d been more open, would things have ended any differently? Had she really ever seen that gleam of interest in his eyes—or had it been only her imagination?
At the sound of a car door slamming, she turned and dredged up a friendly smile, shelving her melancholy thoughts.
A child’s footsteps raced across the porch, and the front door burst open.
And there was Max, smiling from ear to ear, his eyes sparkling and cheeks flushed. “Surprise!”
Stunned, she stared at him, unsure for a heartbeat whether he was real or an apparition.
But Charlie heard him, too. The dog scrambled to his feet and bounded across the store, tongue lolling and tail wagging furiously.
“Charlie!” Max wrapped his arms around the dog’s neck and buried his face in the fur. “I missed you, Charlie.” A heartbeat later he ran to Erin, and when she lifted him high, he wrapped his arms around her neck. “We had to come back. We drove and drove and drove.”
She gave him a kiss on the cheek. “I’m so glad, Max—I missed you both so much. And Charlie did, too. Are you hungry?”
He nodded vigorously. “You are the best cooker ever. But don’t tell Uncle Jack.”
Without looking up, she sensed the moment Jack appeared in the doorway. She lifted her gaze slowly, taking him in. Tall, broad-shouldered, with that dark, wavy hair and those deep dimples bracketing his mouth, he looked like someone who could ride to her rescue on a black stallion, sweep her up behind him and thunder off into the sunset.
“We had to come back,” he said simply, striding over to stand in front of her. He looked down at her, his eyes twinkling. “Max made sure I knew it was a big mistake for us to leave, but I knew it, too.”
“A mistake?” she asked faintly. She gave Max an extra hug and then put him down. “What kind of mistake?”
“Let’s go outside for a few minutes.” She followed him to the porch swing, with Max and Charlie tagging along behind them.
As soon as she sat next to Jack on the swing, Charlie jumped up to join them, and Max squeezed in at her other side.
“I’ve been wanting to ask you something,” he continued. “It’s probably the wrong place, and it’s definitely the wrong time. But I just can’t wait any longer.”
Her heart started to flutter.
“We haven’t known each other for very long…yet I feel like I’ve known you forever.” His deep, gentle voice was like a caress. “I know you’ve made a commitment to your grandfather, and that you need to stay here. But if I move back to Texas permanently, we might lose something that’s too precious to risk.”
A tentative ray of hope began to flicker in her chest when he cupped her cheek with his hand, then brushed a kiss over her lips.
“I just want to know if there’s any chance…for us.”
The tender emotion in his eyes nearly took her breath away. “I’ve never wanted anything more.”
With a fifty-pound mass of fur lying across them on the swing, it was nearly impossible to move, but she ached to turn into Jack’s arms.
“Charlie, you really need to go,” she murmured. “Now.”
Maybe the dog understood what this moment meant, because he eased out of the swing and moved to a corner of the porch without protest and, grinning, Max hopped down to follow him.
With Charlie out of the way, she curved her arms around Jack’s neck and drew him into a kiss that made her feel breathless and giddy.
And when he kissed her back, she felt as if she’d joined the stars above.
Dear Reader,
Welcome to the beautiful Montana Rockies and the start of my BIG SKY SECRETS trilogy. The other two books will be out in February 2010 and June 2010. I hope you will mark your calendar and join me for the ongoing stories of these three young women. A terrible tragedy may have marked their high-school years, but each of them has grown up to be a strong, resourceful woman ready to face the challenges and dangers ahead in their own lives.
In Final Exposure, Erin remembers a Bible passage that means a lot to me, too. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:6, 7
What wonderful reassurance this is! This passage has helped me through some difficult times, bringing me peace and comfort. If you are facing tough times, I hope you will turn to the Lord, too, and speak to Him in prayer. He will never let you down.
If you’d like to contact me, you can do so through www.roxannerustand.com. I also have a blog at: www.shoutlife.com/roxannerustand. And if you’d like to visit a host of authors who write for Love Inspired Suspense, you can find us at: http://ladiesofsuspense.blogspot.com.
Wishing you abundant blessings and peace,
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Erin’s life has been marked forever by the murder of her cousin in high school. Were there any tragedies or hardships in your own youth that still affect you as an adult?
Greed drove Ted to embezzle from his vulnerable, elderly clients. What does the Bible say about forgiveness? Do you think Ted could ever be forgiven for his crimes? What about the crimes Patrick committed?
Ollie is a low-functioning adult, but pride, fear and attachment to his late parents’ home have kept him from using government services that are available to him. What types of services are available in your area for folks in need? What kinds of volunteer opportunities are there? Is there anything you could do to help—maybe as a family or with a group from your church?
Max is devastated by the loss of his parents. Do children grieve differently than adults? Look up John 3:16. What reassurance does this verse offer to all of us? How would you explain this verse to a young child?
Both Erin and Jack pray for help at different times during the story. How are their prayers answered? Are they answered right away? God answers our prayers, but in his own perfect time, and sometimes in ways we may never have thought of in advance. Discuss how your own prayers have been answered.
How did God answer Erin’s prayers for help when her life was in danger at the end of the book?
Jack’s sister and brother-in-law, both strong Christians, died in a car accident. At the beginning of the story, Jack is angry at God for not saving them. Why do terrible things sometimes happen to good people? What does the Bible say about this?
Initially Jack only wants to go to church so that Max can continue the traditions of his late parents. How effective will this be? Discuss the nurturing of faith in young children.
Jack has gladly taken on the job of parenting his orphaned nephew, and is struggling to do the best job he can. Have you ever shouldered extra responsibilities to help a family member in need? What is the best piece of parenting advice that you could give Jack?
ISBN: 978-1-4268-3978-8
FINAL EXPOSURE
Copyright © 2009 by Roxanne Rustand
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